Mission Valley Regional Occupation Program (MVROP) recently dedicated its newly constructed Fire Science garage in honor of fallen firefighter and MVROP Alumnus, Thomas "TJ" Marovich. The dedication ceremony was held last week at the MVROP Center on Stevenson Boulevard in Fremont.

Prior to the 2009-2010 school year, MVROP sadly learned of the passing of Thomas "TJ" Marovich. "Thomas Marovich was a student in the Mission Valley ROP program in our fire science program for couple years," said Allison Aldinger, Public Relations Administrator Mission Valley ROP. "He would also mentor the students. Marcovich was passionate and hardworking, he is greatly missed."

Marcovich was a former two-time MVROP Student of the Year, an outstanding community volunteer with the Fremont Explorers, and a member of the US Forestry Service. He constantly returned to MVROP to help train students and serve as a mentor to the MVROP Fire Science students who followed the in the years after he graduated. When his tragic accident occurred, MVROP set out to find an appropriate way to commemorate his passion for public service and further his legacy, inspiring future MVROP students. "He was a model student; we want students to learn by his example. He would come back even after he graduated and help us in any way with donations to the program," said Aldinger.